Iceland Radio (North Sector)

UPDATE: Effective 1 March 2024, Iceland Radio no longer requires a separate endorsement to control. All Iceland-familiarized C1 controllers are allowed to staff Iceland Radio.

The position of "Iceland Radio" serves a unique function within the VATSIM Reykjavik CTA, in relation to oceanic clearances and ATC service in the North sector.

List of ATS Positions

Radio 1	BICC_1_FSS	Iceland Radio	127.850
Radio 2	BICC_2_FSS		126.550
Radio 3 EVENT ONLY	BICC_3_FSS		129.625

Introduction to Iceland Radio

In real life, radio operators at Gufunes Communication Centre in Reykjavik, using the callsign "Iceland Radio," relay communications from Reykjavik ACCACC/OAC to aircraft entering, or within, the Reykjavik CTA.

Two main interactions relating toSince the Reykjavikabolishment OCAof areoceanic relayedclearances viain the BIRD OCA, Iceland Radio:

Radio

operators
• Oceanicprimarily clearances to aircraft entering therelay Reykjavik OCA.
• ATCACC/OAC instructions and& clearances to aircraft in the North sector.
  

Iceland Radio also handles RCL messages for aircraft entering BIRD OCA, who are not CPDLC equipped.

For VATSIM purposes, we combine the role of the controller at Reykjavik ACC (who issues the clearances and instructions), and the role of the Gufunes radio operator (who relays them to the aircraft), into one position.one.

North Sector

The North sector of Reykjavik OACC overlies northern Greenland and a large portion of the Arctic Sea. It is surrounded by Edmonton FIR to the West, and Bodo oceanic FIR to the East. It is also “bordered” by Murmansk FIR to the East, with a slight gap of uncontrolled (internationally disputed) airspace in between.

Airspace Classification

The North sector is classified as:

• Class A from:
  • FL55+ within BIRD FIR.
  • FL195+ within BGGL FIR (see Delegated Airspace below.)
• Class G from GND — FL55 within BIRD FIR, and GND – FL195 within BGGL FIR.

In BGGL FIR below FL195, flight information service is provided by Nuuk Information (BGGL_FSS), which is a separate position to Iceland Radio.

However, controllers staffing Iceland Radio may, at their discretion (workload permitting), choose to cover Nuuk Information's responsibilities top-down.

Underlying Aerodromes

NIL

If Iceland Radio chooses to cover Nuuk Information top-down, then Iceland Radio shall also provide top-down ATC for BGSF and top-down AFIS for other Greenlandic (BG**) aerodromes.

Delegated Airspace

A significant portion of the North sector consists of airspace delegated from Greenland (Nuuk FIR | BGGL) to Iceland (Reykjavik ACC) from FL195+. Reykjavik ACC provides enroute ATC service in this airspace, which is (like the rest of the OCA) classified as Class A.

The diagram below indicates which portions of the North sector are delegated from BGGL FIR (i.e., controlled from FL195+), and which portions are part of BIRD FIR (i.e., controlled from FL55+.)

Responsibilities and Procedures

Solo Operations

Radio 1 (BICC_1_FSS) shall always be the first Iceland Radio position to be opened. In isolation (i.e., with no other BICC positions online), Radio 1 shall perform the following responsibilities:

• Issuing oceanic clearances to airborne aircraft entering the Reykjavik OCA (all sectors, not just North.)
• An ADS-B based ATC service to aircraft in the North sector.
  • With developments in ADS-B satellite coverage, the North sector is now fully covered by satellite ADS-B, and normal ATS surveillance procedures apply (procedural control is no longer required.)
• Processing & responding to RCL messages for airborne aircraft entering the Reykjavik OCA (all sectors, not just North.)
• Issuing IFR and oceanic clearanceclearancess to aircraft departing Greenlandic (BG**) AFIS aerodromes (throughout all of Greenland, not just the aerodromes underlying the North sector.)
  • IFR clearances are required for aircraft climbing above FL195 (i.e., into the CTA.)
  • Oceanic clearances are required for aircraft climbing above FL285 and/or leaving BGGL FIR.
  • Clearance is relayed via local AFIS if online. If not,local AFIS is offline, aircraft shall contact Radio 1 directly for theclearance. clearance request, and afterAfter issuing the clearance, BICC shall instruct themthe afterwardaircraft to return to UNICOM until entering controlled airspace.

As described earlier, Radio 1 may also optionally (workload permitting) choose to cover the responsibilities of Nuuk Information (BGGL_FSS) top-down, including the associated top-down ATC/AFIS for Greenlandic (BG**) aerodromes.

Split Operations

During heavy traffic situations, or events like CTP, it may be desirable to split the responsibilities of Iceland Radio across multiple positions/controllers.

Under routine circumstances, a two-way split is possible, between Radio 1 (BICC_1_FSS) and Radio 2 (BICC_2_FSS.)

Under such a split, Radio 1 (BICC_1_FSS) provides:provides the following services:

• Processing & responding to OceanicRCL clearancemessages tofor aircraft entering the East and West sectors. (During a heavy Eastbound or Westbound traffic flow, such as during CTP, traffic entering these two sectors account for the majority of OCL requests.)
• IFR/oceanic clearance to aircraft departing Greenlandic AFIS aerodromes.

Radio 2 (BICC_2_FSS) provides:

• OceanicProcessing clearance& responding to RCL messages for aircraft entering the North and South sectors.
• ATC service to aircraft in the North sector.
  

(It is assumed that if the workload is heavy enough that two BICC positions are required, neither BICC position will have the bandwidthcapacity to also cover the responsibilities of Nuuk Information.)

During events, an additional Iceland Radio position/frequency, Radio 3 (BICC_3_FSS), may also be opened. Radio 3 is a flexiblean “overflow” position with responsibilities to be assigned on an ad-hoc basis,basis. andIt shall not be opened during normal operations.

Oceanic Clearance Phraseology

Even though "Iceland Radio" is the callsign used by all the above BICC positions, oceanicall clearances areand toinstructions should be relayedgiven to pilots usingprefaced by the phrase “Reykjavik Control clears youyou…”

to…”

For example:example, for an amended route clearance issued in response to an RCL message:

🎧 AAL501, amended route clearance, Reykjavik Control clears you toafter WashingtonING viadirect BARUD 63N010W 63N020W 63N030W 62N040W 60N050W AVUTI, from BARUD maintain FL340, Mach 0.82.NASBU.

This is to reflectreflects the fact that in real life, Iceland Radio relays clearances & instructions from Reykjavik ACCACC/OAC ("Reykjavik Control.")